NO SUIT REQUIRED
/we hate cancer
CANCER HAS NO EYES
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LET'S STAND TOGETHER
TO SAVE LIVES!!
A cancer diagnosis can stir up fear – fear of the loss of life, as well as fear of changes to quality of life.
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But it can also cause you to fear the unknown. And ask questions like: What is cancer? What is happening inside my body?
CANCER SUCKS!
Cancer takes the most important people in our lives without warning.
(It took my wife of almost 27 years)
WHAT IS CANCER?
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, and a change in bowel movements. While these symptoms may indicate cancer, they can also have other causes. Over 100 types of cancers affect humans.
About 33% of deaths from cancer are caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of fruit and vegetables in diet and lack of exercise. Other factors include certain infections, exposure to ionizing radiation, and environmental pollutants. Infection with specific viruses, bacteria and parasites is an environmental factor causing approximately 16–18% of cancers worldwide. These infectious agents include Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HPV, Epstein–Barr virus, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Merkel cell polyomavirus. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not directly cause cancer but it causes immune deficiency that can magnify the risk due to other infections, sometimes up to several thousandfold (in the case of Kaposi's sarcoma). Importantly, vaccination against the hepatitis B virus and the human papillomavirus have been shown to nearly eliminate the risk of cancers caused by these viruses in persons successfully vaccinated prior to infection.
Cancers are classified by the type of cell that the tumor cells resemble and is therefore presumed to be the origin of the tumor. These types include:
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Carcinoma: Cancers derived from epithelial cells. This group includes many of the most common cancers and include nearly all those in the breast, prostate, lung, pancreas and colon. Most of these are of the adenocarcinoma type, which means that the cancer has gland-like differentiation.
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Sarcoma: Cancers arising from connective tissue (i.e. bone, cartilage, fat, nerve), each of which develops from cells originating in mesenchymal cells outside the bone marrow.
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Lymphoma and leukemia: These two classes arise from hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells that leave the marrow and tend to mature in the lymph nodes and blood, respectively.
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Germ cell tumor: Cancers derived from pluripotent cells, most often presenting in the testicle or the ovary (seminoma and dysgerminoma, respectively).
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Blastoma: Cancers derived from immature "precursor" cells or embryonic tissue.
CAUSE OF CANCER
As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS chemicals could pose health risks. But the companies kept the studies secret from their employees and the public for decades.
Key Causes of Cancer
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Genetic Mutations:
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Inherited Mutations: Some individuals inherit genetic mutations from their parents that increase their risk of certain cancers, such as breast and colon cancer. These inherited mutations account for a small percentage of all cancers.
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Acquired Mutations: Most mutations occur after birth and are caused by environmental factors, known as somatic mutations. These can result from exposure to carcinogens, which are substances that can lead to cancer.
2. Environmental Factors:
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Chemical Exposure: Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals, such as those found in tobacco smoke, asbestos, and benzene, can increase cancer risk. Tobacco use alone is responsible for a significant percentage of cancer deaths.
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Radiation: Both ionizing (e.g., X-rays) and non-ionizing radiation (e.g., UV radiation from the sun) can damage DNA and lead to cancer
3. Lifestyle Choices:
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Diet and Obesity: A diet high in processed foods, red meat, and sugar, along with obesity, can increase the risk of various cancers, particularly colorectal and stomach cancers.
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Physical Activity: Lack of physical activity is also a risk factor for cancer, as it can contribute to obesity and other health issues.
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4. Infections:
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Certain viruses and bacteria can increase cancer risk. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to cervical cancer, while hepatitis viruses can lead to liver cancer.
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5. Aging:​
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The risk of developing cancer increases with age, primarily due to the accumulation of genetic mutations and a decline in the body's ability to repair damaged cells.
